Dispatches from the front line

January 1 ^st 2025 - 11:46 [GMT + 3]

"I started this project five years ago", begins Internò. "I had zero experience in rally raids but a huge passion for storytelling and a desire to showcase Dakar, the most incredible race in the world." While he may be new to the rally-raid scene, the thirty-something has plenty of experience in competitive motorcycling. Born into a family that lives and breathes motorcycling, he spent his youth exploring Europe on two wheels. By age 16, he was racing in enduro, building his skills over eleven years in the Italian and European championships and even at the World Championship. After taking a four-year break from competition, Internò had the idea to enter the 2021 Dakar with the aim of documenting the race in real time on social media. "Unfortunately, I had to withdraw by stage 3", recalls the man from Brescia. "Still, I decided to stay at the bivouac and film the daily lives of the other Italian riders." Internò went on to set up Rally POV, a media brand that he developed mainly on YouTube and Instagram and became an instant hit. "There's a renewed passion for the Dakar in Italy and I like to think I've played a part in that", says Internò, who rides a Honda bearing number 93. His motorbike is painted in the colours of the legendary Africa Twin XRV 750, which he owns too. "On top of the 50,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel, my Instagram posts during the 2024 Dakar exceeded ten million views over the two weeks of racing." Internò often pauses mid-race to capture action-packed moments. Last year, for example, he stopped during a special to film Carlos Sainz changing his wheels. "I really try to share parts of the race that no one would see if I weren’t there", he explains. Sending dispatches from the frontline has not hurt his own performance. Last year, he finished sixty-seventh overall and fourteenth in the Original by Motul class —a result that caught the eye of Honda. "I'm one of three riders entrusted with the prototype for the new customer racing bike that the Japanese intend to market soon", he reveals. "That said, competing in the malles-moto class, it's still up to me to handle all the daily maintenance. To cap it all off, we'll be changing our own tyres, which adds another layer of challenge to the adventure." To expand his media coverage, the Italian has enlisted Alberto Porta, a seasoned journalist from Mediaset. "Alberto and his two camera operators will produce a daily show shot at the bivouac, focusing on behind-the-scenes action from other categories. It'll air every evening on Rally POV", concludes the most media-savvy Italian rider in the Dakar.